Blade stropping device



June F. J. SCHALOW 2,246,927

BLADE STROPPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1939 Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLADE STRQPPING DEVICE Frank J Schalow, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application September 29,1939, Serial No. 297,092

9 Claims. o1. 51-221) I This invention relates to devices for use in the stropping of blades and particularly single and double edged safety razor blades. More particularly the invention consists in the provision of an elongated rectangular hone having a treated upper surface and a blade holding member generally yoke-shaped in form to straddie the hone and extend over the treated surface thereof so as to provide manual or other movement of the blad holder longitudinally of the hone and over said treated surface; a further object being toprovide a blade holder consisting of hingedly coupled parts within and between which a razor blade is adapted to be keyed and supported with means for arranging said part; or the blade therein at an inclination to the surface of a hone to dispose the beveled edge of the razor blade in proper relationship to said surface in the sharpening of the blade; a still further object being to provide a holder 50- con structed as to support the edge of a blade in an angular position transversely of the hone other. than at right angles thereto; and with these and other objects in view'the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specifiedg, which is simpl and economical in'construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed: in the following specification, of which the accompanying; drawing forms a part, in which the separate'parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and. in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of device;v which I employ with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of F a Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing only a part of the construction.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

6 is a View similar to Fig. :2 showing a modification.

In carrying my invention into effect, ,I preferably provide an elongated rectangular hone body H! in the form of a strip of plate glass, upper corner portions of which or edges of which are beveled as seen at H in Fig. l of the drawing. The upper surface It of this glass is specially treated to provide thereon a desirable hone surface. The surface is prepared by using a suitable abrasive in substantially powdered form together with water or other fluid agent to form a paste-like substance thereof and in arranging said substance between two strips of glass and in rubbing or agitating these strips one with respect to the other to produce what might be termed a finely ground surface I2.

I also find that this same result can be accomplished by using a suitable disc or pad which is rubbed or reciprocated over the surface I2 with the grinding or other compound thereon. In this connection it is to be noted that ground glass of more or less conventional construction, or in other words produced in accordance with known methods, for the heretofore known uses of ground glass are not satisfactory to produce the advantageous results which I have accomplished in the use of a glass hone prepared in the manner defined. In other words, it is desirable to produce a surface 12 which has what might be termed a soft or velvety texture in the 20 passage of the 'finger of the hand thereo'ver rather than a coarse or rough texture, thereby producing a very fine stropping action upon the blade avoiding any tendency toscratch or'mar In Figs. 1 tot-inclusive *1 have shown one plate 1'4 having depending side walls I!) forming a channel-shaped block of the plate for slidable engagement with the strip 10, the side Wallsor flanges l5 fitting loosely over the side edges 10a of the strip to to guide the blade holder in its movement longitudinally of said strip. The

rear end -of the plate 14 has downwardly extending-supporting feet 16 at the corner portions thereof which are adapted to-rest upon the upper surface l2 of the hone strip- Hland to support the plate M in an inclined "position.

l5 project therefrom as seen at l5a to form pivots walls [8a. arranged over the walls I5, the walls 18a. being pivoted to the extensions 15a as seen at l9.

The-plate 14 "has two transversely spaced outwardly protruding pins 211 which are adapted to enter corresponding--apertures '2l-' in a double edged razor blade 22 in keying the blade against movement on the plate [4. The retaining plate It is also provided with apertures 23 for receiving the pins 20, thus retaining the blade 22 against displacement from the holder. The beveled edges of the blade 22 are indicated at 22a and 2211; and by supporting the plate 14 in the inclined position as'is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2,

the beveled edges 22a, 22b of the blade may be supported in the proper position upon the surface l2 in the sliding movement of the holder longitudinally of the strip l in stropping or sharpening these edges, it being understood that the blade 22 must be turned in sharpening all four beveled sides of the two edges 22a, 221). This is done very simply by raising the plate l8 on the pivot Hi.

It will of course be understood that the forward end portion lBb of the retaining plate I8 extends beyond the cut-away or recessed edge of the plate l4 and is disposed over the edge of the blade 22, it being sharpened so that by applying light pressure to the device l3 while holding it between the fingers of a hand, the beveled surface of the blade edge arranged upon the surface l2 will be stropped or sharpened most effectively. It requires but a few strokes of the device over the surface l2 to accomplish this result unless the razor blade is in very poor condition. In this connection, however, it will be understood that it is not the intention to provide a device for regrinding a razor blade, but rather a device which will function in the man her of a strop to simply renew the edge of a blade which has become somewhat dull, or in other words, has lost its fine easy cutting edge. By the use of a device of this type and kind, the life of a razor blade may be more or less indefinitely maintained.

The honing strip !0 is made of sufficient width as is also the holder to support the side edges of the blade well within the side boundaries of the hone as is clearly illustrated in Fig. l as well as in the modified showing in 4.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing I have shown a slight modification of the structure shown in Fig. 1 which simply consists in providing a plate 24 substituted for the plate M and difierentiating there-= from in omitting the pins and providing instead a long socket 25 to receive part of the enlarged crosshead 25 of a single edge razor blade 21. With this construction the plate 28 is substituted for the plate l8 and is provided with a socket to 3 inclusi e, it bein understood, however, that the blade 21 need be turned only twice in sharpening the same, rather than turned four times as in shar ening the double edge blade. At this time it will also be apparent that the structure or mounting of a sin le edge blade as shown in Fig. 6'

is applicable to the angular blade mounting as is taught in Figs. 4 and of the drawing.

In the latter fi ures. 32 represents a plate simi ar to the plates I4. 24. but instead of having the feet It and 39. an anti-frictional roller 33 is em-' nloyed to support the plate 32 in the inclined position desired, the roller being mounted on a transverse pin 34 which is secured in the side walls or flanges 35 of the plate. The recessed portion 35 of the plate will have downwardly ex tending bearings 31 for reinforcing the mounting of the roller 33 as will be apparent. At 38 is shown a plate substituted for the plates l8 and 28 and is pivoted to the side walls or flanges 35 as seen at 39, the plate 38 having similar walls or flanges 38a. The forward edge 40 of the plate 32 as well as the forward edge M of the plate 38 are angularly disposed in the sense that they are not arranged at right angles to the longitudinal plane of the device as in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive so as to dispose the edge or edges of the razor blade in a corresponding angular position which will in some instances, produce a more desirable sharpening or stropping action. With this construction, the key pins 42 on the plate 32 which are similar to the pins 20 will also have the same angular relationship, as will the apertures 43 in the plate 38 for receiving said pins.

At this time it will be apparent that any suitable keying means may be provided between the hingedly coupled plates of my holder to suit different types and kinds of blades to be stropped or sharpened. The important feature is to provide a holder for a blade or tool of the character described, which will support the edge which is to be sharpened in the proper angular relationship with respect to the surface of the hone employed as a sharpening medium, as well as in the angular position as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 so that the blade edge being sharpened is disposed at an angle other than to the path of movement of the holder-over the hone surface.

It will be apparent that in view of the simplicity in theconstruction of the device as a whole, the same may be sold at a very reasonable retail price and at the same time a very simple, neat and practical blade sharpener is provided. The device may be made from metal or from other. non-metallic material, suitable for the purpose.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersv Patent, is:

1. A blade sharpening device of the class described comprising in combination with an elongated hone having an upper sharpening surface, of a yoke-shaped blade supporting member straddling said hone and guided in the movement of said member longitudinally of the hone by the yoke-shaped contour thereof, said member comprising movably coupled plates, means for keying and supporting a blade between adjacent surfaces of said plates to support the cutting edge of the blade in direct contact with the upper surface of said hone, and means for supporting said member and the blade therein in an upwardly inclined position with respect to said surface in maintaining the desired contact f the cutting edge of the blade with said surace.

2. A blade sharpening device of the class described comprising in combination with an elongated hone having an upper sharpening surface, of a yoke-shaped blade supporting member straddling said hone and guided in the movement of said member longitudinally of the hone by the yoke-shaped contour thereof, said member comprising movably coupled plates, means for keying and supporting a blade between adjacent surfaces of said plates to support the cutting edge of the blade in direct contact with the upper surface of said hone, means for supporting said member and the blade therein in an upwardly inclined portion with respect to said surface in maintaining the desired contact of the cutting edge of the blade with said surface, said last named means comprising an anti-frictional memb r,

3. A razor blade sharpening device of the character described adapted for use with a, hone of predetermined width, said device comprising a blade holder composed of two pivotally coupled parts, one of the parts being yoke-shaped in cross sectional form to provide a wide top plate having depending side walls adapted to engage the side walls of said hone, the other \part having a plate disposed over the top plate of the first named part with the forward edge thereof projecting beyond the corresponding edge of the top plate of the first part, means keying and supporting a razor blade between adjacent surfaces of the plates of said parts in a manner to dispose the edge thereof to be sharpened in alinement with the forward edge of said second part, and means supporting said holder in angular position with respect to said honing surface in sharpening a blade supported therein.

4. A razor blade sharpening device of the character described for use with an elongated honing member, said device comprising upper! and lower interfitting parts of yolk-shaped cross sectional form, each part having a wide blade engaging plate with flanges at opposite sides thereof protruding forwardly of the front edge portion of said plate, means pivotally coupling said flanges at the extremity of said protruding porrtions, the forward edge portion of the upper plate p-rotruding beyond the forward edge of said lower plate sufiiciently to overlie and shield the edge of a blade engaged between said plates, the protruding portion of saidfianges being adapted to extend along side edges of said honing member, and means at the rear edge portion of said lower plate for supporting said device in a predetermined inclined position with respect to said honing member.

5., A razor blade sharpening device of the character described for use with an elongated honing member, said device comprising upper and lower interfitting parts of yolk-shaped cross sectional form, each part having a wide blade engaging plate with flanges at opposite sides thereof protruding forwardly of .the front edge portion of said plate, means pivotally coupling said flanges at the extremity of said protruding portions, the forward edge portion of the upper plate protruding beyond the forward edge of said lower plate sufiiciently to overlie and shield the edge of a blade engaged between said plates, the protruding portion of said flanges being adapted to extend along side edges of said honing member, means at the rear edge portion of said lower plate for supporting said device in a predetermined inclined position with respect to said honing member, the axis of the pivot coupling between said parts being substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of said device on the honing member and the front edge of said plates being arranged at an angle to said axis.

6. A device for holding a blade in the operation of sharpening the same, said device comprising plate-like members having interfitting side flanges pivotally coupled at one end of said device, the member forming the lower part of said device having the forward edge thereof adjacent the pivots of said flanges disposed inwardly of the corresponding edge of the upper member, means at the opposed edge of said lower member for supporting the same in raised position, means on said members adapted to engage and support a blade therebetween, and said last named means being arranged to dispose the edge of the blade in alinement with the forward edge of said upper member.

7. A device for holding a blade in the operation of sharpening the same, said device comprising plate-like members having interfitting side flanges pivotally coupled at one end of said device, the member forming the lower part of said device having the forward edge thereof adjacent the pivots of said flanges disposed inwardly of the corresponding edge of the upper member, means at the opposed edge of said lower member for supporting the same in raised position, means on said members adapted to engage and support a blade therebetween, said last named means being arranged to dispose the edge of the blade in alinement with the forward edge of said upper member, and the forward edges of said members as Well as the blade engaging means thereof being arranged angularly to the side flanges of said members, whereby longitudinal movement of said device with a blade supported therein will operate to move the blade diagonally with respect to a honing surface.

8. A device for holding a razor blade in the operation of sharpening the same, said device comprising a pair of members pivotally coupled at the forward ends thereof, means for keying a blade between said members to dispose the edge of the blade in alinement with the forward edge of said device, and means at the opposite edge of the device for supporting the same in inclined position.

9. A device for holding a razor blade in the operation of sharpening the same, said device comprising a pair of members pivotally coupled at the forward ends thereof, means for keying a blade between said members to dispose the edge of the blade in alinement with the forward edge of said device, means at the opposite edge of the device for supporting the same in inclined position, said last named means being integral with the lower member of said device, and the forward edge of said lower member being arranged inwardly of the forward edge of the upper member sufficiently to expose the lower surface of the blade edge to a honing surface.

FRANK J. SCHALOW. 

